Guide 172 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read
Better ways to say “per se”
Latin for "by itself" — overused in English as a half-hedge.
i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler
Means "considered in isolation, apart from context." Precise in philosophy and law; in everyday writing it often softens a claim the writer isn't sure of. Drop it, or say "in itself" if the contrast matters.
ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo
Before
It's not a bug per se, more of a design choice.
After
It's not a bug — it's a design choice.
iii · The alternatives4 ways out
- 01In itself neutral
direct translation
The rule is not unfair in itself.
- 02Exactly neutral
if the hedge is weak
Not exactly a bug; a design choice.
- 03[delete it] neutral
most of the time
It's a design choice.
- 04By itself neutral
plain English
The rule is not unfair by itself.
iv · Brew tipKeep this one
"Per se" is Latin for "I'm about to walk back my claim."